Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

The federal budget is key legislation passed every year, one that will indicate the priorities of both the president and Congress.  President Obama mentioned several budget proposals in his recent address to Congress, and included them in his budget proposal to the Senate last week.

Congress' role in the federal budget process is to debate and pass the budget, a blueprint for federal spending for the upcoming fiscal year beginning in October.  The budget is a non-binding resolution outlining funding priorities for all federal expenditures and agencies, and allows the federal government some discretion for unforeseen costs like responding to natural disasters. 

The Congress then passes 12 different spending (also called appropriations) bills, which are binding.  These appropriations bills are usually passed by the beginning of the upcoming fiscal year, which always begins October 1, and provide the funding for the federal government to operate.

In his first address to a joint session of Congress, the president prioritized three areas of federal spending for fiscal year 2010: energy, health, and education.  I am very pleased President Obama has a clear vision for how the development of new, clean energy can bolster our struggling economy in short and long-term ways, as well as increase our national security.

As Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, I view energy as a major national priority and am confident that New Mexico's essential role in the research, development, and production of clean energy and its components will remain strong and even expand in the FY 2010 budget.  The laboratories in our state are more important than ever.

As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee and head of the committee's task force on health care reform and insurance coverage, I look forward to working to improve American health care, particularly for un- and underinsured New Mexicans.  I'm particularly pleased about the proposed increase in funding for programs to incentivize providers to work in health professional shortage areas.  This will help bring medical practitioners to the most medically underserved parts of our state.

I will work to ensure that Congress eventually passes spending bills that will reflect New Mexico's needs.